Extraordinary Occurrences at Chesterfield.
Is it spiritualism?
The above question, strange though it may appear these days, has been often asked during the past few days in connection with a series of extraordinary occurrences, which, had they not taken place in broad daylight, and in the presence of numerous independent persons, would not be credited for one moment. There is no doubt that for some time a house situate in the not very salubrious location – Wheeldon Yard, has been the scene of some very extraordinary “manifestations” as they would be called by spiritualists.
Here “knockings” have been heard for some time, and it is said, and there is little doubt as to the truth, that various articles in the house have been disturbed, and have moved from one place to another, by what agency is not stated. Those who have been present say that the articles float from one place to another, apparently at their own free will.
Such a state of things has naturally caused considerable excitement, and the house has been besieged by visitors, much to the annoyance of the occupants. This has gone on for some time, until it came to the ears of the police, who by the inmates request have had the matter in hand for some few days and during that time, and in the presence of members of the force certain curious things have happened which have not been explained away as yet.
Being naturally sceptical we determined, for the information of our readers, to investigate the matter as far as possible. Whilst the information we have obtained is certainly extraordinary we cannot doubt for one moment that those who furnished us with what we now print firmly believe in their statements.
The house is a semi-detached one in Wheeldon Lane, and although of a poor character is scrupulously clean. It is, and has been occupied for ten years, by Mrs. Hibbs, who lives there with her son and grandson. Our representative had an interview with both Mrs. Hibbs and the grandson. Both appeared to be much impressed with what they alleged had taken place, and from what was said it was evident that if another house could be obtained No. 8 would very soon be vacant, for that the place was haunted seemed to be the opinion of both.
Asked if they had seen anything the old woman replied that she had not seen anything of shape, but the boy replied that “it,” by which he described the agency which was stated to be the cause of the curious phenomena, was a black thing. His grandmother, however, seemed to think that the lad’s overstrung nerves were the cause of what he fancied he had seen. Questioned further, the old woman stated that they were never disturbed until the end of last June, when curious knockings were heard in the house on a centre wall upstairs and also on a table in the bedroom. These were not ordinary raps, but very loud, and of such a nature as might be caused by a heavy instrument. No mark was ever discovered on the walls or table.
This went on, accompanied by other curious circumstances for a month. The noises then ceased, it was hoped definitely, but just before Christmas the inmates were again disturbed by a recurrence of the signs, &c., and became so alarmed that they have never all been to bed for ten weeks, sleeping downstairs on the sofa or in chairs. The knocking has since then gone on interruptedly, and the furniture, ornaments, and kitchen requisites appear to have taken to themselves life and wings, moving about in most extraordinary directions, so we were told.
The house, as stated before, is semi-detached. It has no back premises, and has no window at the back or end. There is also no cellar. The outside door opens into the “living” room, neatly furnished, and abounding in canaries and bird cages. On the right is a kitchen, and from this is a flight of twisted stairs leading to a small bedroom over the kitchen, and opening into another larger room over the living room. In this room is the small table on which the knockings take place, and it is on the partition wall between these rooms that similar noises. The woman then described graphically what had taken place, and also showed us the damaged articles.
She said that the other day she was seated alone in the house when a candlestick which was on the mantel piece, suddenly floated into the living room, struck against the ceiling, detaching some of the plaster, and then returned into the kitchen and fell with a loud noise. Nothing whatever was to be seen. Again she and her grandson were having a meal when the bread left the table. They picked it up off the floor and placed it on the table again, but it was once more soon on the floor. This occurred three times. She also said when her son and grandson have been at work articles have flown from one room to another, taking a curved course, and have been broken or damaged.
The noises upstairs have also occurred then, as they have at night, when all have been at home. She also showed a broken lamp glass, such as miners use, which she said was on a chest of drawers in the living room. This describing a curve disappeared on to the slopstone in the kitchen where it broke with a loud crash. Then again a day or two ago she heard a loud noise upstairs. Proceeding to see what had happened she found a small glass slipper, which had been left on a projecting ledge, broken, having evidently come in contact with the opposite wall. Asked if any in the house had ever been struck by any of the articles, Mrs. Hibbs said that the lad had, by a tin can, which caused a lump on his head. It then fell on the floor with great force causing a large indentation.
The most extraordinary occurence was perhaps one which we were informed took place when several persons were in the lower rooms endeavouring, if possible, to ascertain the cause of the disturbance. Without a word of warning a loud noise was heard at the foot of the stairs. On investigation a box was found, which had evidently come with terrific force against the wall at the bottom of the stairs, damaging the wall. To have arrived here the box would have to be brought under or over a bed, round a corner and down a twisting stair and still we are assured by several persons who were in the house that no sound was heard until the box crashed at the foot of the stairs and nobody was upstairs.
Another occurrence which happened in the presence of the police we are told was this. A loud noise was heard in the room upstairs, as if a heavy weight had fallen. On going upstairs nothing was to be seen except a small wooden egg-cup, broke, which a few minutes before had been on a shelf at the foot of the stairs. When this occurred the man and his son were in bed together, in the small room.
Another incident we relate as told to us; and we have done. Some time ago Mrs. Hibb, her son and grandson all went up to bed, leaving a pair of clogs downstairs under the sofa. Before they had been upstairs more than a minute or two, they all aver the clogs were there too, although they had not been downstairs again.
Were it not that a number of the above incidents have been witnessed we could not put any faith in their truth, although as we state above we think that the inmates of the house and especially Mrs Hibbs believe that there is something “uncanny” in the whole business. This is evident to any observer and the effect on the health both of the old woman and the boy is very marked.
What is at the present time a mystery, to the police, to the neighbours, and to the old woman, the son and grandson appear equally mystified, will no doubt be ultimately cleared up, but there is at present no appreciable clue to its solution. The house has been visited by numerous people amongst others by a spiritualist who averred that the place had once been the scene of a murder and that the reason of most of the articles in their flight taking a curve in one direction pointed to that spot, as having a close intimacy with the alleged crime.
Other equally silly theories have been advanced, and efforts have been made to frighten away the “evil spirit” by means of a prayer meeting. One person who went with this intention, we are informed, was so frightened by sounds he heard, that he got up and fled. It is somewhat remarkable that the residents of a house higher up the yard about a year ago left on account of the knockings, &c., they heard there, and to which allusion was made in our columns at the time.
Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald, 28th February 1891.